Kentucky RB apologizes after he threw football, hit LaNorris Sellers’ grandfather
Kentucky running back Seth McGowan has apologized for a touchdown celebration gone wrong.
McGowan opened Saturday’s game with a 20-yard touchdown rush during the Wildcats’ 35-13 loss to South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium. After he scored, McGowan fired the ball toward the hedges in the back of the south end zone.
Instead, McGowan’s reactionary thrown sailed high and hit a South Carolina fan sitting in the handicap seating against the wall.
“That’s completely my fault,” he told reporters after the game. “I tried to throw it at the ground and in a high energy moment it slipped out and came out wrong. Absolutely unacceptable and that’s something that won’t happen again.”
The fan, who was hit in the left shoulder area, was given some medical attention. After the game, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers revealed to ESPN’s Cole Cubelic and the media that the fan — wearing a No. 16 jersey — was actually his grandfather. Sellers gave his grandfather a game ball after the win.
Sellers shared after the game that his grandfather was fine.
"I went to him after the game and he was good,” Sellers said. “... I saw everything happen. I saw it, then they showed it on the Jumbotron, and I was like, 'Oh, that's my granddad.’ "
McGowan apologized again Sunday morning on social media.
“During our game vs South Carolina, I threw a ball after a touchdown meaning to throw it at the barrier in front of the stands and during a high energy moment the ball struck a fan,” McGowan posted on X/Twitter. “What I did was absolutely unacceptable and not at all reflective of myself nor this program.”
McGowan wasn’t penalized for the incident on Saturday night, much to the dismay of fans at Williams-Brice Stadium and online. Gamecock great DJ Swearinger was flagged for throwing the ball into the stands in a 2012 win over Arkansas.
It wasn’t clear if McGowan was aware that he hit Sellers’ grandfather with the ball. Sellers said he didn’t talk with the Kentucky back after the game.
“If anyone can get me in contact with the fan or his family I would like to formally apologize to them and make it up any way possible,” McGowan said in his online apology. “Also I would like to apologize to the entire fans of South Carolina Football and their program.”
This story was originally published September 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM.
